Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-01-12

came Johnny and his mother. NoIone sea4ed
tothink of calling her anything but AJohn1y's
mother" With them came the @pbor
lodger," who had not been easily induced to
accept the invitation, and who was looking
very doubtful and reserved, and on the lde-
fensive, so to speak, as though their motive
was as yet not quite clear to him.
But Honors diplomatic little aside, which
h3d answered so we'll with the Others, seehed
+. to- Eucceed with him also; at any rate, solar
asdisarning his suspicious went. 1nreplfhe
bowed low, with few words about his Ssti-
nation Of the privilege Of being allowed to
assist Miss Bryson in any way. But itiNas
enough to show that he was gentleman, had
he not, evidently weak as he was, and appre-
ciative Of the comfortable chair aMigneA to
him, 80 courteously endeavored to decline il
in favor of others. The threadbare clothes
which hung so loosely about his tall, gAnnt
frame contrasted piteously with his dis,
tinguished bearing At the same time there
was no trace in his countenance, which was
that of refined thinker, Of any vice which
might have brought him 30 low in sthS eocinl
scale as to desire to conceal himse1 tho
psserablns attic Of one of the mealisg5 hgas@
Hi the street, where the most
stricken gave him the name of the poor
1odger"
The little tailor's aside to his wife:S Ibem
was swell clothes once, mother, and nofhing
will get the gentleman out Of them any Mol'e
than it will out Of him." showed that others
thought as I did.
Then came the old soldier, brisk andj neat
and upright as soldier with bullet in his
leg could be expected to be. EYaything
about him, from his clear, keen grsys&es TO
his carefully brushed and mended Hlothas and
well polished boots, bearing witnsA stU|s HE
of discipline. By the hand he led ANu, the
little motherless girl, whose fat4 the
drunken cobbler, lived in the kanIA house
with him. He had done what be could Tor
her in the way Of adornment, brushing the
beautiful golden hair and tying itup with 9
piece of string into funny little knob p the
top of her head, brightly polishing iler poor,
! shabby boots, and presenting her withIa gay
pictured pocket handkerchief to carry lin her
hand; and be had paid respect to the season
by pinning few holly berries in the front OF
her thin, worn frock.
As they entered the room she hung back,
clinging nervously to him, and looking as
scared as though she expected she was going
to he beaten. Honor had some difficulty in
inducing her to loose her protectors hand,and
take the stool provided for her in . warpl
corner near the fire. When she at length sat
down she shrank timidly against the wali, as
though only desirous to escape notice IS.
All felt that little Annie needed sythpathy
and kindness more than did any gus there,
if the soul was to be kept much longer In the
great mournful eyes. Most pitifu1 6f ail was
the old look in the pihched, white face. She
seemed to regard US with kind Of calm in
diligence, as grown-np children playing at
life, which she had long seen the sad real
ity Of.
All went well, and with fnusic and chatting
the time was spent ysfy happily until 9
o'clock. Then. before the queer company
was seated around hettable, Honor proposed
that ssch one Irelatel the history Of the hap
piest moment ct hisiife ~
The bappiest moment! There was puz-
zled. half dodbtfal expression in some of the
Z faces al tb.6ught traveled back into the past
but il presently disappeared, and there was q
srdfle moro or less expansive upon every ones
STAGE. Even the poor lodger had reticent
smile upon his lips, as he turned his eyes med
itatively toward the fire.
Johnnie led or. He admitted without
shame that the happlest moment of his life
was when he had been invited to the party
and Sally had assured him that there would
be all the turkey, minee pie and pudding that
he could eat His mother blushed over his
very materialistic idea of happiness Hel
own story was this: ~ think the very hap
piest moment have ever had was when the
manager at the warehouse promised to give
me a shilling dozen extra for making the
shirts, for" she added, looking round with O
deprecatory little smile, as though to apollo
gize for the homeliness of the cause Of her
happy moment, "growing boys are almost
always hungry"
Mrs. Parnell, when called upon to relate
her story, coughed meditatiyely behind her
fan for moment or two, and then gracious
ly lid that the happiest moment of her life
was when she danced with Lord Langland al
the tenantry ball, VIII ell she was just 49,
Grace Fairlie and Honor had some difficulty
in keeping their countenances as they ex
changed glances. Even tho "poor lodger'
was evincing some signs of having once known
how to laugh. But the ethers appeared suff.
GENTLY impressed to satisfy Mrs. Painell, had
she had any misgivings upon the point. She
, was gazing complacently into the fire. She
\kad simply related fact, and was too much
bsorbed in the pleasant recollections it had
allied up to notice any ones face.
Old Mamie though: the greatest amount
bliss she ever experienced was when she
,&1 %toI <bo nl ho,
1owance out stead of going into the house VI
he old soldier described how a feeling
bat his mother was pear him pulling him
way from q trench during a battle, gave
i'm his happiest moment, because just as he
Yas fairly out a shell burst in the trench and
e knew that he had been saved from certain
cath by the watchful spirit of his dead
lother. .,sf.
"But why didn't you have another dream
tell you to put your leg out of the way
hen the bullet was comingF' ASKED Johnnie
~ chose to take it into the way, my lad,
bmewhat absently replied James Brooks
besides, that did Inc no hurt"
"No hurt to be shot!"
"Well my boy, there's different ways OF
eing hurt, Us perhaps you'll find out as you
et older. I'd had my lesson, you see, and
idn't need to be taught over again"
"But ain't you going TO tell us how you got
he bullet in your leg!" persisted Johnnie.
You didn't have that through the dream"
"Wel, I got shot while was fetching out
young"- He paused, ruffiing up his
canty hair. "But 1 am no hand at telling
hem sort of things. 1t isn't for ME to say
Why I'm bit proud OF the bullet carry
bout with me, ladies and gentlemen. Perhaps
will be enough if I say that it brought me
his" touching the cross upon his breast, and
ather shyly adding: at was a French Off
or that was saved, an only. son"-here
e gazed afar off dreamily and cut short bis
tory.
The "poor lodger," when asked to tell his
tory, begged TO be excused for little longer
Ind gave way to Sally, who, after some
ktammering, said, III high delight, glancing
hyly round
1T was last night, then. He met me fetch
khe supper beer, and he said he'd got
naGyed for tidy bit of furniture, and
+: for rainy day, as well as reg
there was no call VI wait"
eopgratulated. Sally, and Aunt
81 ,bave beer